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NATIONAL NEWS
20010113
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Islamabad asks Delhi to facilitate APHC mission
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Hasan Akhtar
ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: Pakistan has welcomed the nomination of a
delegation by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and called on
India to facilitate their visit to Islamabad.
A foreign office spokesman in a statement here on Friday said that
the government "welcomes the decision taken by the APHC executive
council at a meeting in Srinagar on Thursday to send a five- member
delegation to Pakistan."
It called on New Delhi to enable all members, nominated by the APHC
chief to proceed to Pakistan for consultations to prepare the
ground for a tripartite negotiations for a peaceful settlement of
the Kashmir dispute.
The APHC delegation has proposed to undertake the visit from
January 15, but three of its members have yet to be issued travel
documents by the Indian government. Only two of the five designated
members have valid passports.
Till late Friday evening there was no official information here
about the firm date of the Hurriyat team's arrival.
The Indian authorities have been prevaricating about the intended
APHC visit to Pakistan, indicating their desire to refuse visa to
some of the selected APHC members.
The delegation comprises Mir Waiz Umar Farooq, Abdul Gani Lone,
Sheikh Abdul Aziz, Syed Ali Geelani and Maulvi Abbas Ansari.
Agencies add: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference on Friday made it
clear that its delegation would not go to Pakistan unless all the
five members were given passports, reports APP news agency.
"We are not going for a pleasure trip to Pakistan. The delegation
of Hurriyat will not go to Pakistan if the passports are not issued
to all the five members announced by the executive of the 23-party
alliance yesterday," the news agency quoted Hurriyat chairman Abdul
Gani Bhat as telling newsmen in Srinagar.
However, he expressed the hope that the Indian government would
take a positive decision and issue travel documents to all members
of the delegation to undertake the visit on the scheduled date.
"Indian authorities should display a realistic approach by clearing
present hurdles and make our Pakistan tour a success," Mirwaiz Umar
Farooq, a former Hurriyat Conference chairman, said in a statement
in Srinagar.
Islamabad says the Hurriyat trip could eventually lead to
tripartite talks among Pakistan, India and Kashmiri leaders.
"Our aim is to reduce the tension between India and Pakis-tan by
finding a permanent solution," said the statement by Umar, who is a
member of the five-man delegation named by Hurriyat chairman Abdul
Gani Bhat.
Mirwaiz, who is a member of the delegation named on Thursday, told
a congregation at Jamia Masjid here that their desire and efforts
would also be directed towards the resumption of stalled talks
between India and Pakistan and to ease the confrontation and
tension between the two countries, it said.
The unease has not only played a negative effect on the people of
Jammu and Kashmir but those of the two countries for a long period.
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20010111
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Pakistan offers to demine Lebanon
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BEIRUT, Jan 10: The chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, has
offered demining of Lebanon's borders where the Israeli army left
last year more than 130,000 mines during its 22-year occupation.
Speaking at the banquet hosted in his honour by Lebanese Prime
Minister Rafik al-Hariri late Tuesday, he touched upon the Middle
East crisis, Pakistan-Lebanese ties, investment opportunities in
Pakistan, Kashmir and Afghanistan crisis.
Pakistan supported Lebanon's just stand to regain its territory and
secure the full implementation of the UN Security Council
Resolution 425, said Gen Musharraf.
He said Pakistan also supported Beirut's call for international
assistance for reconstruction and rehabilitation of Lebanon's
liberated territories.
Gen Musharraf said he was encouraged by his talks with the Lebanese
prime minister which "have been constructive and productive."
He said the two agreements signed between the two sides on Tuesday
were the first step in the right direction. He expressed the
confidence that relations between the two sides would further grow
in the years ahead.
On Afghanistan, Gen Musharraf said Taliban were a reality and added
that a lasting peace in Afghanistan could not be ensured unless
ground realities were taken into account.
On Wednesday, the CE condemned atrocities of Israeli forces while
recalling the 1996 carnage at the CANA refugee camp which killed
105 people.
"Pakistan certainly condemns these atrocities against innocent
civilians by Israeli occupation forces," he said while talking to
reporters soon after offering fateha at the memorial of those who
were killed by the Israeli attack.
Referring to demining, Gen Musharraf stated that a team had to be
sent from Islamabad to see and assess the degree of the work needed
and the type of force required to demine the Lebanese border.
He said that according to the international norms and agreements
all mines had to be marked and mapped.
Gen Musharraf said Lebanon should demand the maps from Israel and
the international community should ask the latter to provide those
maps.
He said Pakistan had the technical capacity about demining. But it
had to first see the terrain and had to assess what type of mines-
lifting measures could be adopted to accomplish the job.
TRADE TALKS: Gen Musharraf held talks with Lebanese business
leaders on Wednesday to boost modest bilateral trade.
"Our plan is to import from Lebanon expertise in financial
services, real estate development and tourism because we are weak
in these areas," Commerce and Industry Minister Razak Dawood told
Reuters after the meeting.
He said Pakistan aimed to double exports to Lebanon to $20m next
year by including textiles and more agricultural products.
Adnan Kassar, head of the Lebanese Chamber of Commerce, said:
"Pakistan is a promising market for Lebanese consumer products.
Pakistan's labour and raw materials are inexpensive."
Gen Musharraf held talks earlier on Wednesday with Lebanese
President Emile Lahoud.-Agencies
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20010109
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Riba-free system to take time
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Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Jan 8: The government is not yet ready to introduce
interest-free banking because of the anticipated repercussions of
the change over on Pakistan's relations with the international
donor agencies and foreign commercial banks.
Official sources told Dawn here on Monday that Pakistan, which was
still facing tough time from the multilateral agencies and G-8
countries despite getting $596 million facility from the IMF to
avoid default, will experience more difficulties if it decided to
go for Riba-free banking from July 1 this year.
The finance ministry officials voice concern over the statement of
the religious minister, Dr Mehmood Ahmad Ghazi, publish by almost
all the Urdu and English newspapers on Monday.
"The World Bank and the IMF tell us nothing directly on this matter
as they only assess and monitor our economic policies. But the
statement given by the minister for religious affairs would not
have gone well with them", a source said.
When contacted he said that he could not deny on record what had
been stated by the minister. The newspapers quoted the minister on
Monday having said that by July 1 Riba prohibition ordinance would
be issued to bring domestic transactions strictly in accordance
with Shariat and no person, group, individual, association or any
institution would have the authority or freedom to do any Riba-
oriented transaction.
Nevertheless, sources said, the concerned officials were waiting
for the Finance Minister to say anything over the issue after his
return from Middle East tour.
The Islamization of the economy, they said, might not be officially
opposed by the international lenders and foreign banks but they
would certainly prefer to gradually withdraw their investments in
Pakistan in case the new ordinance was promulgated by July 2001.
Sources said that the time-frame given by the Supreme Court for the
elimination of Riba had been "well noted" by the donors and foreign
banks and they had been expressing their reservations over it
privately. "But what will happen from now on is a question which
can only be answered by the finance minister", another source said.
He said Pakistan still needed to manage its financial affairs with
the help of the donors and foreign banks and that the higher
authorities should think about it with a view to avoid severe
haemorrhage to the already fragile economy of the country.
Discussing about the transition to Islamic financial system, the
IMF document on Standby Agreement with Pakistan says the government
is in the process of making necessary preparations to implement the
Supreme Court's December 1999 decision, requiring the
transformation of financial system to conform with Islamic
financial system.
In this connection a commission on the transformation of the
financial system has been set up to formulate the plan and suggest
amendments in contracts and operations of financial system. "Once
the transformation is complete, all new domestic borrowing will be
in accordance with the Islamic financial principles; new
instruments and institutions, as well as a legal framework will
need to be put in place for this purpose. All international debt
obligations will continue to be services", the SBA said.
It was also learnt that the finance ministry officials are
currently reconciling all the relevant economic data to seek $1.5
billion restructuring loans from the Paris Club for which the
finance minister and his team will be going Paris at the end of
this month.
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20010110
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Pakistan, Jordan to boost ties
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AMMAN, Jan 9: The chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, and
Jordanian Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb held in-depth official
talks on Tuesday, calling for practical measures to strengthen
cooperation in various fields. The Jordanian PM stated that both
the sides had expressed the resolve to expand relations in the
fields of culture, economy, science & technology.
He hoped that the increased mutual cooperation would yield positive
results and help resolve problems facing the two nations.
Reciprocating Mr Ragheb's remarks, the CE said that Islamabad was
appreciative of closeness of their existing ties and there was
identity of views on many regional and international issues.
"The two sides should identify areas of cooperation to put our
ideas into practice for mutual benefit."
The CE briefed the host leader about the Afghan crisis and stressed
the need for restoration of peace in the war-ravaged country while
keeping the ground realities in full view.
The international community, he said, must talk to the Taliban for
peace in Afghanistan as they were a reality who controlled 95 per
cent of the Afghan territory.
The Jordanian PM expressed an understanding of the views spelt out
by the CE and said, the OIC should make greater efforts for durable
peace in Afghanistan.
TRADE TALKS: Pakistan and Jordanian officials on Tuesday held trade
talks aimed at promoting economic activities and removing trade
imbalances between the two countries.
Jordan has shown interest in business activities relating to rice,
cotton, cotton fabrics and auto-parts. Commerce Minister Razzak
Dawood said: "We are looking at ways and means to further enhance
our investment and business activities in Jordan."-Agencies
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20010113
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Musharraf has no plan to visit India: FO
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By HA
ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: The foreign ministry has denied any plan of the
chief executive travelling to India since no formal invitation has
been received from New Delhi.
The foreign secretary, Inamul Huq, was contacted on Friday for
comment on news reports saying that Gen Pervez Musharraf was soon
visiting New Delhi for talks with the Indian prime minister, Atal
Behari Vajpayee.
The foreign secretary said that the CE was on record having offered
several times to hold talks with India any time, anywhere and at
any level. However, there has been no positive response from Delhi
to Islamabad's desire to resume talks.
"How can the chief executive agree to travel to New Delhi for talks
without an invitation from the other side."
Indian minister, Ajit Panja, "ruled out any imminent visit" by Gen
Musharraf according to a foreign news report. Mr Panja was quoted
to have said: "Our policy remains constant and until conditions are
there for peaceful talks, until terrorism stops, it is not possible
to talk (with Pakistan leader) for peace". Mr Panja was
accompanying Mr Vajpayee on his current Indonesia visit.
Vajpayee responding to newsmen's questions during his visit had
said: "I have seen the report (about Gen Musharraf's visit to New
Delhi), but no date has been fixed as yet". Asked if that meant Gen
Musharraf would go to (Delhi). Mr Vajpayee said: "Even that is not
final. That is a question that should be directed to him (Gen
Musharraf). How do I know when he will come?".
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20010113
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No Nuclear arms for Pakistan: Li
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Jawed Naqvi
NEW DELHI, Jan 12: The visiting Chinese leader, Li Peng, politely
told India on Friday that his country was not giving any nuclear
arms to Pakistan nor transferring related-technology to it.
Mr Li, chairman of the standing committee of the National People's
congress, was asked by a parliamentarian during a reception by the
heads of the Indian parliament's two houses to spell out his
country's widely reported help to Pakistan's nuclear arms
programme.
"This is not true. We do not help Pakistan in its nuclear
programme. Pakistan is a friendly country with whom we have good
economic and political relations," Mr Li said, appearing unruffled
and keeping his familiar smile intact.
His week-long visit to India that began in Bombay on January 9 and
brought him to New Delhi on Thursday, makes him the highest ranking
leader from Beijing to be here since relations between the two
Himalayan neighbours soured in May 1998.
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20010113
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PPP slams govt 'threat' to arrest Benazir
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Correspondent
ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: A spokesman of the Pakistan People's Party has
condemned the threats by military regime's spokesman that former
prime minister Benazir Bhutto would be arrested on her return.
This has been stated by the spokesman of the Party while responding
to the threats by military government's spokesman that Benazir
Bhutto would be arrested when she returns to Pakistan this year.
"Ms Bhutto was the victim of a politically motivated accountability
process and has been recognized internationally. The United Nations
Rapporteur on Judges and the Judiciary has written to Islamabad to
visit and investigate the PPP charges that she was denied justice.
The regime should invite the Rapporteur instead of threatening
arrest".
The spokesman said that any attempt to undo her leadership can only
aggravate Pakistan's political challenges and will be resisted by
the PPP and all those who believe in justice and truth.
The spokesman said that Ms Bhutto had already spent six years
behind bars under a previous military dictator and her husband was
spending his eighth year in prison in defence of freedom and the
rights of the people. "The PPP leaders and workers are prepared to
go to prison but unprepared to forsake the people of Pakistan in
their fight for freedom".
The spokesman asked the regime as to why it was scared to invite
independent investigation to determine Ms Bhutto's innocence or
guilt. Why the regime chose to rely on a judge who had obtained a
diplomatic passport in violation of rules as a reward for political
elimination, the spokesman asked.
Noting that two American chief justices had opined that Ms Bhutto
"could never be convicted by an American court", the spokesman
asked the regime to answer accusation that Bhutto had been a victim
of a conspiracy to deny the people the leader of their choice.
"The regime is unable to invite independent foreign jurists or UN
persons such as Mary Robinson or the Rapporteur in the case of Ms
Bhutto because in its heart it knows she is innocent".
Noting that the Islamabad regime had been unable to stem Pakistan's
decline in international stature or the collapse of its economy,
the spokesman said that it was ironical that the regime was
concentrating on Benazir Bhutto instead of concentrating on saving
the country by restoring democracy.
In another setback for the Musharraf regime and its foreign policy,
China's second most powerful political leader Li Peng arrived in
New Delhi on the second leg of his visit to India.
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20010112
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India told to shun Nuclear doctrine
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Tahir Mirza
WASHINGTON, Jan 11: The United States has urged India to distance
itself from a draft nuclear doctrine released in August 1999 that
said New Delhi would pursue a policy of credible minimum
deterrence.
A comprehensive report Proliferation: threat and response, released
by the US government on Wednesday, says while the Indian draft has
no official standing, having been prepared by the private advisory
group appointed by the Indian government, it is "not consistent
with India's stated goal of a minimum nuclear deterrence" and
should be disowned by New Delhi.
The report has a separate chapter on South Asia. It says 25
countries now possess, or are in the process of acquiring and
developing, capabilities to inflict mass casualties and
destruction.
India, it says, has a capable cadre of scientific personnel and a
nuclear infrastructure consisting of numerous research and
development centres, 11 nuclear power reactors, uranium mines and
processing plants, and facilities to extract plutonium from spent
fuel. "With this large nuclear infrastructure, India is capable of
manufacturing complete sets of components for plutonium-based
nuclear weapons, although the acquisition of foreign nuclear-
related equipment could benefit New Delhi in its weapon development
efforts to develop and produce more sophisticated nuclear weapons,"
the report says.
It points out that in June 1998 New Delhi signed a deal with Russia
to purchase two light-water reactors to be built in southern India.
"India has taken no steps to restrain its nuclear or missile
programmes. In addition, while India has agreed to enter into
negotiations to complete a fissile material cut-off treaty, it has
not agreed to refrain from producing fissile material before such a
treaty would enter into force."
On Pakistan, the report says, like India, it is putting emphasis on
becoming self-sufficient for the production of its nuclear weapons
and missiles.
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20010112
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Hurriyat forms team for visit to Pakistan
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Jawed Naqvi
NEW DELHI, Jan 11: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference on Thursday
named a surprise five-member delegation for a proposed crucial
visit to Pakistan, omitting its chairman Abdul Gani Bhat and key
leader Yasin Malik.
The APHC move, analysts said, was largely meant to frustrate New
Delhi's apparent attempts to split the apex group fighting the
Indian rule in Kashmir.
The APHC, however, urged the Indian government to issue passports
to all seven members of its executive council, an official at the
Hurriyat told Dawn.
"We have decided to send Maulvi Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Shah Gilani,
Abdul Gani Lone, Sheikh Abdulaziz and Maulvi Abbas Ansari," he said
after a day-long meeting of the APHC's executive council.
The meeting discussed India's "attempt to choose" the APHC
delegation for the visit, initially scheduled for Jan 15, by
selectively issuing passports to some while excluding other
Hurriyat leaders.
Of the seven executive council members only two held passports on
Thursday that were valid for the Pakistan tour. They are former
APHC chairman Maulvi Umar Farooq and senior leader Abdul Gani Lone,
camping here for a heart check-up. The passport of Maulvi Abbas
Ansari was impounded when he recently returned from the Islamic
summit in Doha. It was not clear if that order was ever revoked.
Earlier, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said the government had
decided to issue a passport to Mr Malik, but on medical grounds.
According to the Hurriyat officials, even that passport was
restricted to travel to the United States and Britain and thus was
not valid for Pakistan.
Mr Malik was not immediately available for comment but Jamaat-i-
Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Gilani, back from hospital though still
convalescing from bronchitis, told Dawn: "Yasin's passport is not
valid for Pakistan, so he, too, is as handicapped as me."
Mr Gilani and People's League leader Sheikh Abdulaziz are the two
leaders who, with Mr Bhat, have not been issued any travel document
whatsoever. Going by Home Minister L.K. Advani's reported remarks
India would prefer them to stay in Srinagar rather than to go to
Pakistan for a visit that could become an embarrassment for New
Delhi.
There is another possible link to Mr Advani's remarks. The Indian
election commission on Thursday announced polls in May for five
states, including Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Mr Advani's Bharatiya
Janata Party has a major stake in both states. With little else to
show for their two years in power, the BJP is going to need a
combination of jingoism and communalism to mobilize support,
analyst say.
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20010110
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AJK assembly enacts Ehtesab Bureau Ordinance
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Tariq Naqash
MUZAFFARABAD, Jan 9: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative
Assembly here on Tuesday unanimously passed the AJK Ehtesab Bureau
Ordinance, 2000, with some amendments.
The ordinance, which was twice promulgated last year in July and
November, was introduced in the assembly on Saturday. On the same
day, it was referred to a select committee headed by law minister
Haji Javed Akhtar.
The select committee had proposed amendments in some 10 sections of
the ordinance, which were unanimously endorsed by the house.
Through an amendment in section 27 subsection 4, the Ehtesab Bureau
has been bound to inform the person arrested of the grounds and
substance in writing, the basis of his arrest.
He must be produced before the court within 24 hours, excluding the
travelling time. The detention period for inquiry and investigation
has been reduced from 75 to 30 days.
By an insertion in subsection 3 of section 2, no punishment
contained in the ordinance would apply retrospectively. The
insertion says, the offences committed after January 1, 1985 shall
be triable under the ordinance, provided that, notwithstanding
anything contained in this ordinance or any other law, the
punishment for the offence committed prior to the enforcement of
this ordinance shall not be awarded greater than the penalty
prescribed for the offence at the time the offence was committed.
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20010109
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Govt puts curbs on official spending
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Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD, Jan 8: The government has immediately put a bar on all
official spending with the exception of pay and allowances and the
"most obligatory expenditures".
The Accountant General of Pakistan Revenue (AGPR) is also being
directed by the authorities not to release money to any government
agency/ department, unless it is meant for payment of salaries and
allowances of government servants, or to meet the "most obligatory
expenditures.
A reliable source in the finance ministry told Dawn that the AGPR
would release money for the "most obligatory expenditures" only if
the proposed spending carries the approval of the concerned
financial advisor (FA) of the respective ministry/division.
Official sources believe that this extraordinary measure is the
consequence of "irrational" and "unnecessary" spending, by
different ministries and divisions, resulting in more pressure on
the already fragile economy of the government.
However, the authorities say that this step has been taken to get
time for the purpose of reconciliation of government accounts up to
December 2000, the first half of the current financial year. The
ban will continue till the completion of reconciliation of accounts
and issuance of necessary instructions by the finance division for
the operation of the budget for the second half of the current
financial year.
Meanwhile, the finance ministry has also convened a meeting of all
of its financial advisors and deputy financial advisors attached to
different ministries/divisions on January 11, to evolve the
mechanism for operation of the budget in the second half of the
financial year.
The meeting is expected to suggest major cuts in the official
spending during the second half of the financial year, to narrow
down the deficit gap which is imminent, due to the shortfall fall
in revenue targets and also because of over- spending by different
government departments.
The new system, which has decentralized the government expenditure
by authorizing the principal accounting officer (PAO) of every
ministry/division to spend the allocated money according to the
needs and without referring the matter to the finance ministry, has
reportedly resulted in serious financial indiscipline in government
agencies.
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20010108
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New law on devolution within two months
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Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 7: The law governing local governments under the
devolution of power plan will be in place much before August 14,
2001 when the new system is to go into force throughout the country
after completion of election process.
The ordinance, also outlining the city government, was being
drafted in consultation with the provincial governments and may be
enforced within two months, said Federal Information Secretary Syed
Anwar Mehmood while talking informally to a group of journalists on
Sunday.
Replying to a question, he said that the devolution of power is to
take place not only from provinces to districts, but from Centre to
provinces also, as enunciated by Chief Executive Gen Pervez
Musharraf and chief of the National Reconstruction Bureau Gen
Naqvi.
Mr Mehmood said the government was considering making the provinces
more autonomous and equipping the offices of Nazim and Naib Nazim
with financial powers to make the district governments more
responsive to the peoples' problems.
About the government's impression on completion of the first phase
of local government elections, he cited the CE's statement who had
said the results of local government elections "have been taken as
reposing confidence in the government by the people."
The chief executive has asked all the four governors to interact
with the newly elected members of the union councils and associate
them with programmes like poverty alleviation, food stamp and Zakat
system. He has also asked them to give the elected members training
on how to monitor projects and acquaint them with problems and
their solution.
On certain western countries' demand for a roadmap of democracy's
return, he said the government had already initiated the process
through the ongoing local government elections and on its
completion the next phase of elections would be announced.
He said that some 18 observers teams, constituted by diplomats
based in Islamabad, had watched the first phase of the local
government elections in the 18 districts of the country.
The reduced age factor of voters may be one of the reasons behind
the large turnout in the elections, which were held soon after Eid,
he said to another question.
He said that despite the new system, in which each voter had to
cast five ballots, if the literacy rate in the rural areas was kept
in view, the spoil votes percentage, which was not more than 18 per
cent, was not much. He hoped that in the next phases, this
percentage would further come down.
Mr Mehmood said that in the new system, the role of local
government in the development of the district would be far greater
than the basic democracies of Ayub Khan, whose role was more an
electoral college than local bodies.
Under the devolution plan, it is envisaged that the finance system
of the district government would consist of a- revenue and its
resources, b- tax collection machinery, c- incentive framework
(ownership promotion, performance incentives) and d- the district
budget (development expenditures and recurrent expenditures).
All these factors would combine to maintain financial autonomy and
sustainability of the district government. The three tiers of local
government would have tax collection machinery at their disposal
and the specified schedule of local taxes for a union, tehsil and
district, that would fall under the control of these respective
levels. These financial powers outstand the new local government
system from the past local bodies.
Mahmood said the government expects a large turnout of voters in
the remaining phases of union councils elections in the country,
with the next phase scheduled for March 21, 2001 in 23 districts of
the four provinces, adds PPI.
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010107
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Govt claims 45.7% turnout in LB polls
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Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Jan 6: There was a 45.7 per cent voter turnout as nearly
3.9 million, out of 8.9 million registered voters in 956 union
councils of 18 districts, voted in the first phase of local bodies
elections held last week.
This was stated at an inter-provincial meeting presided over by
Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf here on Saturday. The meeting
was attended by all the four provincial governors, federal
ministers for finance, interior, local government, chairman of the
National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) and the Secretary to Election
Commission of Pakistan.
While the Election Commission of Pakistan was claiming that the
turnout was 45.7 per cent and in some areas over 50 per cent, local
and foreign observers continued to challenge the figures by saying
that people did not participate in the local bodies elections with
fervour and enthusiasm as had been witnessed in the past.
Generally, it was said that the turnout was not more than 35 per
cent. BBC and other wire services reported 30 to 35 per cent
turnout in the elections.
One of the factors attributed to this low turnout was the fact that
ballot papers had confused the voters because of their colours.
Some of the newspaper reports which were not denied by any
government agency, including the Election Commission, suggested
that the confusion on ballot papers contributed to the reduction of
10 per cent of polled votes.
Moreover, informed sources continued to maintain that over 2000
candidates did not file their nomination papers in different areas
despite a lot of persuasion by the local administrations.
The chief executive asked the governors to initiate the ground work
in consultations with the NRB for smooth transition of the
devolution process at the union council, tehsil and district level.
He specially referred to the need for putting in place the
administrative and logistic arrangements for smooth functioning of
district governments.
He advised the governors to interact with the newly-elected
councillors regularly and seek their views regarding issues and
problems relating to their areas.
The meeting expressed satisfaction over the fact that a large
number of voters had enthusiastically participated in the elections
despite inclement weather and the Eid holidays. Satisfaction was
also expressed over the fact that these elections had also brought
up a large number of young and educated councillors at the union
level.
The sources said that the CE told the meeting that efforts should
be made to create more awareness so that more and more people could
exercize their right to vote to send honest and dedicated people as
their representatives to the elected institutions.
In this behalf, he said, the forthcoming national and provincial
assembly elections were very important. He said the people would
have to take deep interest to choose their members with great care
so that their problems could be resolved and the country could be
put on the path of progress and development.
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20010113
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Afghan refugees inflow multiplies
-------------------------------------------------------------------
GENEVA, Jan 12: The flow of Afghan refugees arriving in
neighbouring Pakistan has jumped threefold over the last three
days, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said on
Friday.
The refugees, who are mostly women and children, are fleeing the
conflict in Afghanistan pitting the Taliban against the opposition
Northern Alliance, and the worst drought in living memory, he said.
Of the new arrivals in the last four months three quarters are from
minority groups mainly Tajiks and Uzbeks, UNHCR has said. Some 25
per cent are ethnic Pashtuns.
It is said that there was still no word from the Tajik government,
which the UN agency has called upon to accept some 10,000 Afghans
stuck for weeks on string of islands on the river Pyandj bordering
the two countries.
"The reports coming from Afghanistan indicate that the people here
are the lucky ones because they can afford the transport," said
UNHCR emergency coordinator Mohammad Adar.
"I think the situation in Afghanistan is becoming a famine - it's
not just a drought anymore," he said.
"Most of them have already spent a year or two in displacement
camps in Afghanistan. They arrive in Pakistan already exhausted and
with no means to survive on their own.-AFP

===================================================================
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
20010112
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Relaxation in some IMF terms likely
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Jawaid Bokhari
KARACHI, Jan 11: Some of the tough and numerous IMF
conditionalities may be eased to remove hurdles and help Pakistan
meet key fiscal and monetary targets.
The first indication of a possible relaxation has come from the
Fund agreeing to Islamabad's request to delay the change-over from
fixed rate of return on Defence Savings Certificates to market-
determined yield on long-term government bond.
Under the stand by arrangement (SBA), the fixed return on DSCs was
to end on Jan 1. On the same date, the Central Directorate of
National Savings (CDNS) however informed all its outlets that "the
DCS issued from Jan 1 to June 30, shall carry the existing rates of
profit and shall remain valid for 10 years."
A CDNS circular, however, clarified that the rates of return will
be subject to review after every six months, for which amendments
are being made in rules.
Sources said the current return on DSCs was very close to the yield
on government bonds, with very nominal variation and the government
felt the fixed rate should be sustained for a while so as not to
destabilize the DSCs' sales in a difficult fiscal situation.
Officials feared sharp drop in sales with the switch over to
market-determined yields. It would have meant greater dependence of
the government on bank borrowing for budgetary support when the
banks are facing a tight liquidity problem. Interest rates would
have soared. And the government would have ended up with a larger
budget deficit. Facing a difficult situation, Islamabad approached
the IMF and the Fund allowed a six-month postponement, sources say.
Budget deficit is a key issue in the IMF funding. The IMF
conditionalities designed to take recipients towards free market
and integration of national economies into global economy, often
tend to cancel each other and work at cross purposes. A tight
schedule of tariff cuts goes simultaneously with rapid increase in
tax revenue. Targets in both areas have to be met.
Sources said the IMF needs to relax stiff terms, detailed in SBA,
that are not so important, to enable Pakistan to achieve key fiscal
and monetary targets. Pakistan has met pre-conditions like market-
driven exchange rate and depreciation of the rupee.
Financial analysts say that progress is being made to meet IMF's
vital structural performance criteria. Quarterly petroleum price
adjustment will provide windfall benefit to the oil marketing
companies.
The revision in prices, imposed under the SBA, is aimed at ensuring
that government meets the budgeted petroleum surcharge. Unofficial
estimates are that the government has managed to earn Rs.6.85
billion during July-September 2000. The price monitoring mechanism,
say financial analysts, will ensure that the full year's target is
met.
And the government has met the deadline for enactment of anti-
dumping law set for Dec 31, 2000. The law has been formulated in
conformity with the WTO rules and would help remove differential in
excises applied to domestically produced and imported goods.
Yet another very difficult area is where the State Bank was given a
target for net domestic asset for end-December. The State Bank
delivered but the liquidity crunch faced by the banks raised the
issue whether such stipulations that deprive industry and the real
economy of funds were at all advisable. Even commercial bankers
feel that the NDA target for March 31, needed to be revised. It is
the government borrowings from the State Bank that is at the root
of the crisis. It is the private sector that is being penalized by
the IMF.
Commercial bankers say that if given an opportunity, they would
like to raise the issue with the IMF review mission expected next
month. There is apparently a consensus among officials and private
sector on the issue which the IMF may not find so easy to brush
aside.
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20010112
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bigger uplift projects should get funds: CE
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Jan 11: The chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, has
directed the finance ministry and the planning commission to
provide substantial funds for bigger development projects of the
provinces, including a water supply project in Karachi.
Official sources said here on Thursday that the officials of the
ministry and the commission had been directed to arrange
substantial amounts for major projects by pulling out funds from
the slow-moving and relatively insignificant schemes.
But the priority should be given to projects like Karachi water
supply, coastal highway, national drainage programme, flood
protection and irrigation.
They were also asked to seek coordination of the provincial
authorities for getting the projects of their choice to be
undertaken in near future.
"We need to remove inter-provincial disharmony by greatly favouring
provinces to have more and more development projects of their
choice", an official quoted the chief executive as saying.
He said that the chief executive had also asked for ensuring no cut
in the allocation for public sector development programme. The PSDP
size has been kept at Rs120 billion for the current financial year.
The sources said fears were being expressed that the government
might not achieve certain success to lower its budget deficit which
was still over 5 per cent (Rs180 billion) and that eventually the
PSDP could be the causality to reduce this deficit. The deputy
chairman, planning commission, Dr Shahid Chaudhry had started a
week-long mid-year review of the PSDP, they said. Maximum efforts,
they added, would be made to ensure that there was no cut in the
programme. However, they said it all depended on the Central Board
of Revenue (CBR) to generate additional Rs90 billion and in case
the department failed, then things could be difficult for the
government and that there was no guarantee for not slashing the
PSDP size.
During the review the planners would see whether certain
development projects required re-allocations.
The meeting will also discuss the finalization of new 15-year
development programme to replace the three-year plan (2000-2003),
prepared by the commission.
The three-year macroeconomic framework envisaged an average GDP
growth rate of 5.5 per cent, implying acceleration of growth rate
from 4.5 per cent in 1999-2000 to 6 per cent in 2000-2003.
Nevertheless, the sources said, the level of investment that was
required for 15-year plan was enormous and that nobody knew as to
how the government would manage new resources.
Investment requirements for even the modest three years plan was
estimated to be 15 per cent of the GDP in the base year to 18 per
cent in the terminal year. Keeping in view the increasingly
privatized structure of the economy, nearly two per cent of this
incremental investment will have to come from the private sector
and about one per cent from the public sector.
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20010112
-------------------------------------------------------------------
US lifts ban on computer export
-------------------------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON, Jan 11: US President Bill Clinton has decided to ease
controls on high-performance computer hardware exports because
technological progress has made such restrictions largely
ineffective, the White House said on Wednesday.
The decision will allow a number of countries, including Pakistan,
India, former Soviet Union countries, China, Vietnam, and many
Middle Eastern nations to import computers under 85,000 MTOPS
(millions of theoretical operations per second) without licence.
Currently, the United States restricts acquisition of such
technology by rivals or foes by limiting exports of high-
performance computers to certain countries.
Nations classified as Tier 1 nations, including US allies such as
Japan and Western Europe, face no restrictions, while Tier 4
countries, whose governments allegedly sponsor terrorism, face a
virtual embargo on computer exports.
Tiers 2 and 3 face licensing requirements based on a measure of
computer performance called MTOPS.
But this method is "already ineffective and it will be increasingly
so within a very short time frame" due to the easy availability of
high-performance computers from non-US sources, White House chief
of staff John Podesta said.
So the US administration will loosen the standard on hardware - the
sixth such easing since 1993 - but beef up restrictions on
"critical software applications, such as nuclear, military, (and)
radar cross-section applications," said Podesta.
"Software cannot be produced overnight," emphasized Deputy Defence
Secretary Rudy DeLeon, who said the decision came after a review
undertaken in 1999.
"With this revised strategy, we will ensure that those high
performance computing capabilities that are critical to the
national security of the United States continue to be effectively
protected," he added.-AFP
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20010113
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Meeting export target a tough job: Dawood
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: The achievement of $10 billion exports target
for the current financial year is getting tougher and tougher,
concedes Minister for Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Dawood, who also holds the
portfolio of industries and production, said the exporters were
being asked to export more so that the difficult target for 2000-01
could be achieved. "I am still hopeful but it is getting tougher
and tougher to achieve it," he stated.
He regretted that exports were low by six per cent in December as
compared to corresponding period in 1999. However, he said exports
were up by 12 per cent upto November last year. One of the reasons
for low exports in December, he said, was week-long holidays on
account of Eid ul Fitr.
"If we increase our exports by five per cent, during the next six
months, we will end up getting nine billion dollars. And if our
exports are increased to 10 per cent, we will be having 9.5 billion
dollars and in case of 15 per cent increase Pakistan will make 9.7
billion dollars," he said. But no incentive would be given further
to exporters to increase the country's exports.
"But we need to increase our exports to 20 per cent during the
remaining period of the current financial year to achieve the
formidable 10 billion dollar target," the commerce minister said.
Responding to a question, he said trade deficit was still $900
million and there was a need to diversify the country's exports
specially by having value addition as was done by other countries
of the region. Nevertheless, he said, trade deficit would be
narrowed during the remaining period of the current financial year.
The exports of four categories that included textile, garments,
rice, leather, sport goods and surgical instruments had been
satisfactory during the first five months of 2000-2001. There was
an increase of eight per cent in textile in November, 15 per cent
in surgical goods, 26 per cent in pharmaceutical, fish, chemical
fruits and vegetable and 34 per cent in other items. But overall,
he admitted, there was no considerable increase due to which
achieving the target looked tougher.
To another question, Dawood said Iran and Afghanistan were being
exported 250,000 tons of wheat, separately. Similarly, he said,
Iraq also expressed his willingness to import 250,000 tons of wheat
from Pakistan.
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20010113
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan, Iran form body on trade disputes
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 12: Pakistan-Iran Joint Business Council (PIJBC) has
decided to form a dispute settlement committee to resolve disputes
in business transactions between the trading houses of the two
countries.
A task force was also formed to assess the level of on- going
smuggling through Pak-Iran border.
These decisions were taken during the second meeting of the joint
business council on Thursday at the Federation House.
The FPCCI and Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines
(ICCIM) would furnish the names of their representatives on the
proposed committee and task force. It was further agreed that an
agreement would be signed for the formation of dispute settlement
committee during the visit of the FPCCI delegation to Tehran next
year to attend the third meeting of the PIJBC.
The Iranian side, led by Engr Sayed Housain Salimi, informed the
FPCCI members that their government was prepared to pay some
premium to Pakistan to stop smuggling. They further informed that
the Iranian government provided subsidy of $7 billion to its
farmers and on many other items, which resulted in increased
smuggling besides incompetitiveness for the Iranian businessmen to
import the same products for their local market. This was the main
reason for the sharp decline in import of rice and other food items
from Pakistan by the private sector.
Salimi suggested for setting up a joint committee of FPCCI and
ICCIM to ensure speedy implementation of the decisions taken in
business council meetings. He also urged for setting up a common
web site for providing updated and relevant information to the
businessmen of the two countries.
It was further suggested that a permanent display centres should be
set up in the premises of the FPCCI in Pakistan and ICCIM in Iran.
Later, the delegation visited the office of Islamic Chamber of
Commerce and Industry and met its secretary general, Aqeel Ahmed
Al- Jassem. Salimi said that the population of OIC countries is
more than one billion but the share of intra-Islamic trade remained
much below the satisfactory level.
He suggested that Islamic countries should set up a system for
carrying out preferential trade to enhance the level of OIC trade.
He said lack of information was hindering the progress of economic
cooperation.
Aqeel invited the businessmen of Iran and Pakistan to the 8th
Private Sector Meeting to be held in Guinea in October next.
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20010113
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Govt defers 15% GST levy
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ikram Hoti
ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: The government has postponed plans to impose 15
per cent GST, on those manufacturing units which are paying 2 per
cent turnover tax, till the presentation of the next federal
budget.
More than 7000 industrial units presently paying 2 per cent GST
were to be brought under the normal procedure, in exercise since
July 1996 under section 3(A) of the Sales Tax Act, 1990. However,
these units were kept out of VAT mode tax and it was decided at the
time of the Federal Budget 2000-2001 that GST would be extended to
them from January or February 2001.
Sources explained to Dawn that the government intends to bring
these units under the 15 per cent sales tax nomenclature for
documentation of their inputs and sales. Their present status does
not allow the Central Board of Revenue to scan their records for
determining actual sales and income.
The recent changes made in Sales Tax Law for inputs documentation
of large and medium scale industrial units has left no space of
operation for small and medium scale manufacturing sub-sectors
under the non-VAT mode.
The change in Sales Tax Ordinance for imposition of 15% tax on
units presently paying 2 per cent turnover tax will be made through
issuance of a Presidential Ordinance. Through this ordinance, these
units would be converted into regular sales taxpayers.
The CBR has been negotiating with the management of these units
after complaints from the large and medium scale industries paying
15 per cent tax that those paying 2 per cent turnover tax have
rendered the former units uncompetitive in a large number of
locally-produced items.
Most of the turnover tax paying units produce mild steel, plastic
goods, kitchenware, ceramics, sanitary fitting, electric fans,
marble tiles, paper-board, polyethene bags, processed fabrics,
PVC/RCC pipes, washing machines, desert coolers, aluminium utensils
and powerloom manufacturers.
Through an audit conducted last year, the CBR found that 16
manufacturing sectors paying 2 per cent turnover tax have evaded
more than Rs6 billion sales tax in three months. In negotiations
with the representative bodies of these sectors they were asked to
open their accounts to routine audit by the Sales Tax Department as
a first step towards imposition of VAT mode tax.
These negotiations, however, did not prove fruitful as the
manufacturers did not agree to voluntary documentation. In the
third round of the tax survey, however, scores of these units are
now being visited by the survey teams and are being asked for
details on their inputs and sales.
Once this process is over, the CBR would be asking the government
to issue an ordinance for conversion of these units into GST-paying
registered manufacturers. Presently, the CBR deems it fit not to
carry out this plan until the next budget is prepared.
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20010112
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Team upset over Iran's refusal to buy wheat
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Aamir Shafaat Khan
KARACHI, Jan 11: Leader of the visiting 16-member Iranian trade
delegation, Seyed Housain Salimi, has said that he would take up
the issue of his government's refusal to buy 200,000 tons of wheat
worth $30 million from Pakistan.
At a meeting with businessmen at the Federation of Pakistan
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Thursday, he showed
concern over the decision.
"I am shocked," Salimi responded to a news item published in Dawn
on Thursday regarding Iran's refusal to buy wheat from Pakistan.
However, he said: "Refusal to buy wheat from Pakistan will not
affect our old relations," and added, "We will take up the issue at
the government level."
Talking to Dawn, he stressed the need for exchange of business
information between Pakistan and Iran. "We need to know each
others' products and also should have some idea of our market
demand," he said.
He said that his government had chalked out a privatization
programme for the five years.
Addressing the gathering, he said his country had regularized the
imports of various items including fruits and vegetables and only
customs duty had to be paid. He said Tehran has lifted the customs
duty on the import of denim from various countries including
Pakistan, about a week ago.
He said according to calculations, 30-40 per cent of the total
expenditure of global trade was related to transport, which in our
case would remarkably decrease, due to neighbourhood.
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20010112
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Businessmen urge suspension of tax survey
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 11: A large number of business leaders demanded of the
government to immediately suspend the ongoing tax survey. This
demand was made in a meeting of the businessmen representing
various town and trade associations, held at the Karachi Chamber of
Commerce and Industry on Thursday.
The meeting was held to examine the implications arising out of the
checking of stocks and spot assessment by the tax surveyors' teams.
A KCCI press release stated that there were heated debates by most
members of the business community against the prevalent tax survey.
The survey, President KCCI, Zubair Motiwalla observed, has neither
broadened the tax net nor has it contributed towards revenue
generation, rather it has slowed down the economic recovery
process.
He informed that the KCCI has already invited income tax
commissioners and collector, Sales Tax East to chamber for holding
discussion on these problems.
He requested the CBR to disclose the total number of survey forms
that have been returned. He said that about 40 per cent forms have
not been collected by the authorities concerned.
The thrust of tax survey and procurement of necessary information,
he said, must be directed towards those who do not hold the NTN
cards.
The industrialists, Motiwala stated, are willing to discharge their
legitimate tax liability and extend their support in broadening of
tax net, but there ought not be any discrimination in the
application of tax laws, either in sectors or in regions, letting
everyone pay according to his capacity and ability.
Chairman SITE Association of Industry, Zakariya Usman asserted that
these exercises were holding back the economic revival, specially
in Karachi. Former chairman, Site Association, Majyd Aziz hinted at
holding talks directly with the Corps Commander on such hardships.
Asif Aziz Balagamwala said that survey should be postponed till the
time 100 per cent forms - which have already been distributed -
were collected. Dawood Usman Jhakoora said that the survey is
causing harassment. Aftab Khalili said that the agriculture sector
has remained scot-free and the traders and industrialists are being
pressurised for mobilizing additional revenues.
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20010110
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Importers calm on rising of dollar
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Mohiuddin Aazim
KARACHI, Jan 9: A two per cent decline in the rupee value this
month has so far not led to panic buying of dollars by importers,
who hope that the local currency may not fall further in the near
future.
Senior bankers said there was no unusual rush for the dollars by
importers adding that premiums on forward buying had declined
during this month.
"We think the volatility in inter-bank exchange rates may soon
recede and the rupee may recover part of its lost strength," said
regional chairman of Pakistan Tea Association Razzak Bantwawala.
"The rupee may remain stable in near future," said chairman of
Pakistan Plastic Manufacturers Association Zakaria Usman, who was
asked by Dawn why importers were not making huge dollar buyings.
The recent history has it that importers make a beeline for
greenbacks if the rupee starts falling upright. But why then the
history is not repeating itself?
"The answer is importers have a positive outlook for the rupee in
the near future," said Zakaria, who is also chairman of SITE
Association of Industry, representing around 2000 industries.
"But one can also put it another way. Importers are rather not
making big imports either... because of uncertainty in government
policies," he said.
The rupee, after closing at 57.90 to a US dollar in inter-bank
market on year-end, started falling immediately afterwards as banks
made dollar buying for official and corporate debt payment. On
Monday, the rupee closed around 59.40 to a dollar after rising to
the intra-day high of 58.90 and touching the low at 59.75 for some
brief moments.
Bankers say the most immediate reason for the fall of rupee is that
some foreign banks have purchased millions of dollars ahead of a
$50-55 million debt and interest payment by Hubco, this week.
They say unlike in the past the importers have so far remained calm
and are not rushing either for spot dollar buying or forward buying
to hedge their positions against future fall of the rupee.
They say banks are ready to sell forward dollars to importers on as
low premiums as 10-12 paisa but there are not many buyers.
Importers refute this impression saying that forward premiums on
Monday were as high as 70-86 paisa for one month and cite "unfair
premiums" as a key factor that keeps them from forward buyings.
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20010111
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign trade deficit up to $938m
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Muhammad Ilyas
ISLAMABAD, Jan 10: The deficit in foreign trade of Pakistan soared
to $938.09 million during the first half of 2000-01, up 22.32 per
cent from the corresponding period previous year.
According to figures, released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics
(FBS) on Wednesday, a significant aspect of the trade figures is
6.01 per cent decline in exports during December 2000, as compared
to December 1999. Likewise, the imports also showed a decrease of
8.01 per cent.
It is this trend in foreign trade, which prevented the trade
deficit from rising as sharply as in the previous months of the
current fiscal.
The government had set the trade deficit target at $800 million for
the entire year. As evident from the difference between the amount
of goods exported and the amount of imports, however, the trade gap
has already jumped ahead of the target by about 18 per cent when
there still remain six months to the year.
The exports during the period July-December 2000, totalled $4.478
billion, denoting an increase of 8.34 per cent over the
corresponding period of previous year. The exports performance, was
equivalent to about 43.73 per cent of the target of $10 billion.
This leaves the country 6.27 per cent behind the target for six
months.
That the balance of payments situation continues to worsen is
evident from the fact that whereas in the first half of 1999- 2000,
the trade deficit was equivalent to 18.77 per cent of exports. The
ratio of trade imbalance to exports in the corresponding period of
current fiscal went up to 20.97 per cent.
In order to come at par with the target, further analysis shows,
the country needs to achieve $5.527 billion worth of exports, that
is, at the average rate of $921.16 million per month in the
remaining half of the fiscal. In the first six months, however, the
exports averaged $745.46 million.
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20010107
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Water shortage: IRSA given one month to resolve dispute
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Faraz Hashmi
ISLAMABAD, Jan 6: Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf has
directed the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) to resolve the
intra-provincial dispute over sharing of irrigation water shortage
through consensus.
The chief executive also directed the IRSA to hold daily meetings
to resolve the issue within a month.
The CE stressed the need for resolving the water dispute through
consensus during a meeting with the officials of IRSA in Islamabad
on Saturday, where he was briefed about the diverging views of
Punjab and Sindh, over the sharing of water shortages.
Punjab has been demanding that during water shortages, distribution
of the scarce resource among the four provinces should be made
according to 'historical usage,' whereas Sindh claims that the
provinces should be supplied water as per formula laid down in the
1991 Water Accord.
Earlier, the Law Ministry, to which the issue was referred, had
suggested that the irrigation water sharing should be made on the
basis of the 1991 Water Accord but "the provinces, through
consensus, can make some other temporary arrangement."
The Law Ministry's advice was referred to the provinces for their
comments. Sindh promptly replied, reiterating its demand of
implementing the 1991 Accord. Punjab took months to formulate its
reply, which was finally received by IRSA on Friday.
Balochistan has also called for the implementation of the accord
while comments from the NWFP are still awaited.
"Water management is a nationally important and sensitive issue and
dispute over sharing of shortages should be resolved through
consensus," Gen Musharraf stressed in the meeting, according to an
IRSA press release.
The chief executive desired that IRSA should hold daily meetings to
thrash out the dispute within a month.
"From Tuesday onwards we will hold IRSA meetings daily to reach
consensus," an IRSA official told Dawn. During their hour-long
meeting with the CE, the IRSA members apprised General Musharraf
that the authority had already complied with all the directives
issued by him earlier.
The CE was also informed that IRSA headquarters had been shifted
from Lahore to Islamabad and the representative of the federal
government at the authority had been selected from Sindh as desired
by him.
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20010111
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Rupee gains against dollar
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 10: After falling sharply over the last couple of
sessions, the rupee on Wednesday showed a measure of strength and
was quoted higher by 10 paisa against the dollar in inter-bank
dealings.
Moving within an extremely narrow range of 15 paisa, as the demand
for dollar was not that aggressive, rupee finally settled at
Rs58.70 and 59.20 for buying and selling in comparison to Rs58.80
and 59.30, a day earlier.
"The new year demand for greenback, both from importers and
corporate sector appears to be falling", bankers say adding "the
pressure on rupee is fading progressively".
Identical strength was also witnessed against other major
currencies including the European and Gulf trading partners, they
say.
For the third session in a row, the rupee, however, weakened
against the dollar by six paisa in kerb, the total erosion since
last Saturday of 22 paisa, reflecting that corporates are meeting a
part of their demand from the open market, currency dealers said.
But there was no evidence of official intervention at any stage as
the rupee was allowed to find its own value, they added.
Treasury Bills: Meanwhile, the central bank has accepted all bids
offered by primary dealers against the sale of Treasury Bills,
discounted value for one-month and 6-month bills being Rs10.215m
and 16.018m, respectively. No bid was received against the 12-month
Treasury Bills.

EDITORIALS & FEATURES
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20010107
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Advancing to retreat
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ardeshir Cowasjee
ONCE again we are on the backtrack, handing our detractors a field-
day and harming the lives, liberty and well-being of 150 million
Pakistanis, many of whom, hungry and thirsty, exist below the
poverty line.
Portions of the main Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report of 1972
which does no damage to the interests of those now in power has
been 'exhibited' (as opposed to released). Those who wish to read
it and do not live in the capital city must travel all the way
there to do so. Copies, strangely enough in view of the release
last year of the Supplementary Report of 1974, have not been made
available to the general public. Supposedly, we will now have to
wait for the Indians to let us have the entire main report with the
portions which have been withheld from us.
The principal culprits responsible for the break-up of Pakistan are
all dead, the cleverest of the lot of course being the power-
hungry, megalomaniac politician, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto - 'I'd rather
be the topdog of half of Pakistan than the underdog of the whole of
Pakistan.'
Second on the list is President of the Republic, Commander-in-Chief
of the Army, General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan, But, to our eternal
shame, the brave leaders who followed him denied him an open trial
and an opportunity to speak.
It has been recorded, and remains uncontroverted, that to the
credit of Yahya, it must be said that he never denied
responsibility for the part he played in the dismemberment of
Pakistan. He made this admission on many an occasion, including to
the Hamoodur Rahman Commission. Major-General Rao Farman Ali Khan,
in his book 'How Pakistan Got Divided', records: "As far as Yahya
was concerned, the Commission stated that he had accepted
responsibility for everything."
Yahya was immediately incarcerated and held incommunicado by Bhutto
at the end of December 1971, first in a 'special house' and then in
his own home. By the time Zia came along and released him it was
too late. He had suffered a debilitating stroke and was severely
incapacitated until he died.
The third culprit and victim was Mujibur Rahman, who, prior to the
break-up, was imprisoned by Yahya, released to become the first
head of the new country Bangladesh and was subsequently killed
together with members of his close family, daughters Hasina and
Rehana being the two survivors, by factions of his own warring
former supporters. (Hasina is now the prime minister of Bangladesh
and the least any gentleman from this side could now do, in this
age of apology and frank admission, is to condole, sympathize and
express regrets for the bitter bloody past.).
After the first three on the list of culprits follow the mass of
minions, the misled empty-headed army, and the cunning devious
bureaucrats (Pakistan's 'gods on earth') who from the very birth of
the country regarded and treated the people of East Pakistan, the
'Bingos', like dirt (for want of a better word) and never missed an
opportunity to humiliate them. Most of the top layer of bureaucrats
are now dead. Those senior army officers who survive should be
shamed and ostracized, even at this late stage of their lives. and
not feted and feasted and requested to spare their valuable time to
open flower shows and melas.
On the subject of Yahya Khan, reproduced is an excerpt from a book
written by former American diplomat James W. Spain, 'In Those Days
- A Diplomat Remembers'. It is humorous and informative and the
portions relating to Pakistan tell us just how we are regarded by
observers:
"Once the family and I went overseas again, the 'rubbing of
shoulders' with the Great began in earnest. General Yahya Khan had
replaced General Ayub Khan as president a few months before we
arrived in troubled Pakistan in 1969. I had been friends with Yayha
during my earlier incarnation in Karachi. That he liked a drink was
known even then. Indeed, I had occasionally supplied a bottle of
whiskey from our rationed diplomatic stock. I don't suppose that
the difference was much greater in those days when he had been a
colonel and I a vice-consul than that between a president and a
charge d'affaires. I observed that now he never had anything more
than a glass of sherry with lunch or dinner.
"In any event, in Pakistan old friendships run deep. To the
annoyance of my anointed ambassadorial colleagues in Islamabad
(including old friend General Parkavan, who was back in Pakistan as
Iranian ambassador), Yahya took to calling the American charge to
sit next to him on public occasions. We talked of the long-standing
US-Pakistan alliance and how to preserve it. He got me off the hook
with the US Air Force on the matter of compensation for the
movables left at Badaber. I escorted to him a long line of visiting
senior US officials, culminating in President Nixon's visit on
August 1, 1969. Lasting good came out of that. Henry Kissinger's
subsequent secret visit to Beijing from Pakistan, the first step in
US recognition of Communist China, was arranged.
"By the time of the break-up of Pakistan in 1970-71, the pains were
in far-off Turkey. Yahya emerged in the world press as the bloody
but incompetent 'Butcher of Bengal'. Word came from old friends
that he was drinking again. That may have explained some of the
brutality and inefficiency of Islamabad's performance in what soon
became the independent country of Bangladesh.
"In my mind even now, however, the real reasons for the break-up
were different. Aspiring prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,
fearing rejection by an East Pakistani majority, enraged the people
of East Pakistan by forcing a delay in the national elections Yahya
had promised to restore democracy. An always suspicious India
seized the opportunity to undermine Pakistani unity and supported
Bangladesh independence by war. In my experience, Yahya was a
decent and honourable man. His intentions were good, and his sins
were human. May peace be upon him."
Today Pakistan is mired in a deep sticky pool of cess. Our sole
ally is the uneducated, violent, obscurantist, terrorism-bent
Taliban government of the internationally-ostracized sanction-
stricken Afghanistan.
General Pervez Musharraf and his men are floundering, as would 99
out of 100 in their position and circumstance. However, there is no
corruption that we know of at the higher levels, and at the lower
levels what seeps through is far less than it was in the
'democratic' '90s. That in itself is a plus. The general has
neither the guile and gall of Zia-ul-Haq nor his amazing capacity
to tell lies. Another plus. But, in a short space of time he has
decided that he has been assigned a 'mission' (which he hinted was
divinely inspired). Now this is a definite minus. Reportedly, he
does not read as many newspapers as did Zia, thereby hoping that he
will be less confused. Another minus.
The general's one ear is Major-General Rashid Qureshi who luckily
does not commute as often as did Qaim Ali Shah, Benazir's commuting
chief minister of Sindh, but who for ever seems to be hovering over
various areas of our land and is thus affectionately known as
'Eagle'. He sometimes reads, and he may read this column.
As far as the Hamoodur Rahman Report is concerned, why not let the
entire unexpurgated document be made public? This may do less harm
than a truncated version which arouses high suspicion. Let It be
read, commented upon and criticized. General Musharraf should be
big enough to do this.
As for the people of Bangladesh, Musharraf should do as did Conrad
Adenauer, Chancellor of West Germany, after World War II, who
visited war memorials and various controversial sites and started
the trend of atonement for the sins committed by a country at war.
This trend has continued down a half century with other countries
such as Japan and the US. If Musharraf cannot bring himself to
travel and offer atonement for the sins committed for 24 long years
by the Pakistan military and civil authorities, he should form a
delegation of senior officials to do so. Is anyone in this country
aware that it is the man who extends his hand and offers an
apology, no matter how late, who is bigger than the one who
doesn't?
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20010112
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The last of the public school boys
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayaz Amir
WHO has ruled Pakistan this last half century? In parts, the
political class, the bureaucracy and the military. But who amongst
these three classes has constituted the core, the essence, of the
country's ruling caste? The answer is obvious: boys from the public
schools whose main attainment has not been the knowledge of the
classics or the mastery of science, either of which would be some
consolation, but the use of the English language.
No divide in Pakistan - ethnic, provincial or class - runs deeper
than that of language. The language of power in Pakistan (as indeed
in India) is English. It is the language of the law, the government
and the military. Half-educated lawyers must perforce argue in it
and judges with an indifferent command over the language perforce
write their judgments in it (which accounts for the unreadable
judgments of recent judicial history). Government summaries and
communiques are written in English. At the military academy in
Kakul raw cadets, many of them from mofussil schools, are taught to
become 'gentlemen' in the Sandhurst manner.
The languages of impotence and disenfranchizement are Urdu and the
local tongues - great for police constables or truck-drivers but of
limited use in the higher spheres of the Islamic Republic. Small
wonder then if merit is a whore in Pakistan. A public school accent
guarantees not only employment but also success and adequate
remuneration. Sure, boys and girls from the vernacular schools also
rise to the top. But compared to their counterparts from the
convents and the public schools they just have to try that much
harder. To the extent then that the old boy network exists in
Pakistan, it lies deep within the public schools. If there is a
masonic tradition in Pakistan it is this. The religious madrassahs
of course are helping create a different kind of old boy network
but that's another story.
I am urging, however, no language revolution in Pakistan. That can
await the rising of another sun. I am all for English (not least
because I earn my bread and butter by it) provided it is not an
instrument of exploitation of the many at the hands of the mediocre
few, an instrument more powerful than any other in the land. All I
am trying to do is to point out a simple truth. The failure of
politics in Pakistan is the failure of the public school boys who
have ruled the country as politicians, mandarins or super-generals.
To say that Pakistan's affairs have been mismanaged has become a
truism, a more enduring symbol of the cocktail hour than peanuts or
potato chips. But seldom is the blame laid where it belongs: at the
doorsteps of the true ruling caste.
Consider the paladins who have ruled Pakistan: Iskander Mirza,
Ayub, Yahya, Bhutto, Zia (yes, even Zia, St. Stephen's College,
Delhi), Benazir, Nawaz Sharif (yes, even he, St. Anthony's and then
Government College, Lahore), Asif Zardari (he ruled Pakistan,
didn't he?), Farooq Leghari. These are just the principal actors.
Behind them stretch a long line of extras: all hoisted to powerful
positions on the strength of the English language. In this feast of
mediocrity and incompetence every public school of note has had its
share, Aitchison College perhaps taking the prize in this
connection. Chiefs' College is also what it likes to call itself.
Down the years some roll-call of chiefs it has produced.
Today the wheel has taken another turn. As the sky darkens and the
national colours flutter wanly in the evening breeze, it has fallen
in great measure to my alma mater, Lawrence College, to provide the
chiefs of this dispensation and shoulder the burden of government.
If ever there was a chance for the public school fraternity to
redeem itself, this was it. Forget the constitutional morality of
it. October 12 was a great opportunity provided there was wit and
vision enough to profit from it. But, as the evidence of failure
mounts, it takes no extraordinary insight to see that the public
school fraternity has blown it again. With one difference, however.
This time it has blown it with great thoroughness.
But it is not Lawrence College alone that is to blame. The failure
it represents is more general. Visit the country's leading clubs
and on soft leather sofas you will come across impressive windbags
- whisky-cured voices spouting cliches and inanities with an air of
wisdom. Such Colonel Blimps are objects of fun even in England,
their original home. But in Pakistan for 53 years they have
furnished the country its leading statesmen and warriors.
The trouble is this circus, amusing while it lasts, is reaching the
end of the road. In the public school hierarchy Aitchison is
somewhere at the top, Lawrence College somewhere below on the
heights. Beyond Lawrence College there is nothing, just the yawning
depths. General Musharraf had no need to put his dogs on display in
order to prove his liberal credentials. He and his generals,
conscious of it or not, represent the last stand of the public
school order as it has prevailed in the army for long. When their
failure is played out, who will take their place?
Since the country's birth the public school boys have had the best
of everything. Now as the shadows lengthen, it is they and their
progeny who are deserting Pakistan. For the labouring or
professional classes to seek a better deal outside is nothing. This
has been the pattern of movement through the ages. In the 19th
century and the early part of the 20th the lowliest Swedes,
Italians, Germans and others besides, those who did not have much
of a future in their own homelands, looked up at the Statue of
Liberty and landed on American shores. But in Pakistan it is the
privileged classes which are voting with their feet and getting out
of Pakistan. Next door to us, the Afghan aristocracy - in many ways
more poised and assured than our own - fled their homeland because
of war and revolution. But Pakistan's well-to-do classes, after
putting the seal of failure on the country's affairs, are getting
out because of an insecurity that can only be explained by the
psychology of plunder: the feeling that the till is empty and that
the good times are finally over.
This is not the failure of a country. It is the defeatism and
intellectual poverty of a parasitic ruling class: incompetent in
leadership and ready to abandon the trenches at the first sign of
defeat. You may not agree with Lashkar-i-Taiba or, say, Jaish
Muhammad, which want to liberate Kashmir by force. But they are
imbued with a sense of purpose which gives them strength. The
overriding sense of purpose of Pakistan's public school boys is to
give their kids a foreign education. To echo Yeats, on one side, a
passionate intensity; on the other, the lack of all conviction. It
is an unequal battle.
Every country needs a ruling class. There is nothing undemocratic
about this. It is just the way how human societies are organized,
with a knightly order at the top and drones and workers at the
bottom. England has a ruling class and has had one for a thousand
years. So does France, Japan, the United States. A hierarchical
order of merit and superior accomplishment reigns in all these
countries and will reign ten thousand years from now. The only
thing is that the knights of a ruling order should be worthy of
their vocation through learning and experience. It is just our luck
to have a ruling class whose foremost characteristics are greed,
incompetence and a knowledge of the English language.
Via the civil service, it is true, men of some learning entered the
portals of power. But how many of them could resist the lure of
corruption or refrain from exercising authority without regard to
law or morality? In general terms, Pakistan's politicians have been
feckless and vacillating creatures, lacking both spine and vision,
its higher generals witless blunderers, its mandarins past masters
at sycophancy and intrigue (and its journalists half-literate
breast-beaters). The lights are dimming on their collective
performance. What play awaits us next?
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20010113
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The price of hypocrisy
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Irfan Husain
IN its issue of January 2, The Guardian carried a story reporting
on New Year celebrations from different parts of the world. It
listed spectacular fireworks, people jumping into freezing rivers
and all kinds of wild parties. At the end, it reported that
Pakistanis had been prevented from celebrating because of threats
from religious groups.
In his weekly column of Jan 9 ("Indoors on New Year's eve"), Omar
Kureishi wrote in this space: "We must not stifle the people
further by taking away whatever little enjoyment they get by saying
farewell to a wretched year and hoping for a better one." In the
same column he quoted from a letter to the editor by Taher Sachak:
"Pakistan must be the only country in the world where people are
not allowed to celebrate the dawning of the new year with the
forced closure of hotels and restaurants."
Indeed, ever since Zia spread his poison across the land, Pakistan
has become an increasingly joyless place. By giving fanatics a free
hand in rewriting the social agenda, the military dictator
succeeded in developing a political constituency for himself, as
well as sowing dissent and confusion, thus prolonging his baneful
stint in office. Weak politicians who succeeded him had neither the
will to keep these zealots in check, nor the desire to rock the
boat. They were too busy looting and mismanaging the country to
care that it had been hijacked by the most backward elements in our
society.
The result of this supine attitude towards intolerance is that
well-placed military sources are unsure if they can handle the
backlash a crackdown against jihadi groups could provoke. And if
the army can't take them on, who can? Another problem is that there
are elements within the armed forces sympathetic to the aims of
these elements. By using them in Afghanistan and Kashmir, the
establishment has conferred a certain legitimacy on them, apart
from arming and financing them.
There had been high (and highly misplaced) hopes when this military
regime took over that it would curb the growing lawlessness spread
by these religious fascists. This calculation was based largely on
General Pervez Musharraf's publicly professed admiration of the
fiercely secular Mustafa Kemal Pasha, and by his personally liberal
outlook. Initially, the fundamentalist groups were forced on the
back-foot by the prospect of a hostile military command. But all
too soon, the Chief Executive distanced himself from any Kemalist
notions he may have entertained in the face of a strident attack
from the Jamaat chief, Qazi Hussain Ahmad. The final surrender to
the forces of darkness came when General Musharraf retracted his
pledge to make the much-criticized blasphemy law less draconian.
Having seen and demonstrated that the army is a paper tiger, the
bigots are bent on implementing their agenda to drag us back to the
dark ages. Knowing full well that they stand no chance in winning
an election (as proved yet again in the recent partial local body
polls), they are confident that they can press ahead with the
army's tacit support. To show their strength, they use bully-boy
tactics on the streets, and hence a cheerless New Year's eve.
Returning to Taher Sachak's letter to the editor, he asks: "Are our
law and order institutions so weak that a small unruly minority is
permitted to hold the (law-abiding) majority to ransom?" I'm afraid
the answer must be 'yes.' Given that successive governments have
demonstrated an embarrassing lack of backbone in dealing with
zealous thugs, the police force is hardly likely to stick its neck
out without political support.
And yet other Muslim countries have no problem in celebrating the
advent of the New Year. Festivities were at full-blast from Jakarta
to Istanbul, and from Almati to Algiers. It was only Pakistan and
Afghanistan that the event passed by. Why have we taken it upon
ourselves to be bracketed with the most backward country in the
world? More to the point, why do we make such a big deal about
young people having a little fun? In what way is our faith
threatened by a bit of dancing and merry-making?
The problem is that out of insecurity, our begoted pontiffs have
taken it upon themselves to proclaim that somehow, Pakistan has
acquired a monopoly on Islam, and only they can interpret it. If
fun is banned in Islam, then how come it isn't taboo in other
Muslim countries? Or do they practise a lesser brand of the faith?
I have yet to hear a rational explanation of why we cannot enjoy
ourselves without incurring the wrath of both the police and the
religious vigilantes.
The other night a neighbour blocked the street, set up a shamiana
and played very loud music the whole night. Neither the police nor
the self-appointed custodians of our faith raised any objection,
perhaps because the gentleman concerned has at least one foot in
that camp. Similarly, the blood and entrails of sacrificial animals
are dumped out on the streets at Eidul Azha without a thought. This
anti-social and inconsiderate behaviour is condoned by the very
people who so effectively sabotage other celebrations.
Although dancing and singing pre-date the development of language,
our zealots are determined to stamp them out. There have been
rallies in Peshawar and Karachi in which satellite receivers, TV
sets and VCRs were destroyed. While Pakistan virtually comes to a
grinding halt in Ramazan, the month is one long celebration in
other Muslim countries.
Our hypocritical ways are not without a price: the ban on betting
at horse races has deprived the exchequer of uncounted billions
over the years. While races continue to be held (and results
announced in the press) and bookies go on taking bets, the
government cannot collect taxes as the bets are technically
illegal. An even more illogical situation obtains where prohibition
is concerned. While Sindh has sensibly issued permits to liquor
shops to sell alcoholic beverages to non-Muslims, the other
provinces have taken a far more rigid position, depriving
themselves of a rich source of revenue. Meanwhile, the smugglers
and bootleggers are thriving at the cost of the state exchequer.
We have become so accustomed to the sickness that is eating away at
our social fabric that we have come to think of it as the norm. But
when we look around, we discover that the world need not be the
grim place it has become for us and that people can have fun
without being struck dead by a bolt of lightning.

SPORTS
20010109
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PCB yet to recommend names for civil award
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 8: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not
recommended names of any of its player for the prestigious Pride of
Performance award to be conferred by the President on March 23.
A top official of the PCB confirmed that he had no information
regarding the names of the players, admitting that no nominations
had been sent until Monday.
"If there had been a move, some document pleading the case of the
player must have been prepared," the spokesman said, adding: "I am
not sure if the PCB chairman decides in next few days to nominate
the names of a few players."
The director general of the Pakistan Sports Board, Brig Saulat
Abbas, said from Islamabad that all the affiliated units of the PSB
have been directed to suggest the names of their players who have
achieved anything significant at the international level.
"But the PCB comes directly under the President and not the PSB,"
he said.
President Mohammad Rafiq Tarar is the Patron-in-chief of the PCB.
The Brigadier added: "In the next 20 days, the list of sports
personalities to be awarded the Pride of Performance would be
released."
Pakistan cricket is plagued with controversies with corruption
charges still hanging over some of the leading players despite the
publication and implementation of Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum's
report on match-fixing.
To rub salt into the wounds, Pakistan cricket team's performance in
the year that has just concluded has been a mixed bag.Last time any
cricketer got the Pride of Performance award was few years back.
Last year, the PCB honoured Moin Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis,
Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saeed Anwar with lifetime achievement awards.
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20010108
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Financially sound PCB can afford Boycott
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Samiul Hasan
KARACHI, Jan 7: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) can afford the
luxury of appointing Geoffrey Boycott because of the 62 per cent
increase in its revenues in the year that has just finished.
The amount that was Rs 367 million at the start of year 2000, rose
to Rs 593 million in the next 12 months because of the increase in
investments by the PCB and recoveries from pending shares.
The PCB received its overdue shares from PILCOM ($3.75 million), $1
million from Pepsi, the Pakistan team sponsors, and from the home
series against Srli Lanka and England. The PILCOM claim was from
the 1996 World Cup which was jointly hosted by Pakistan, India and
Sri Lanka and whose distribution of profits had been delayed
because of litigation (in India).
The profits from the investments include 4.7 per cent on foreign
currency and 16.91 per cent on local currency.
Under this background, PCB's decision of hiring Boycott at 30,000
pounds sterling (Rs 2.7 million) contract for just 15 days is not a
surprise if the cricket managers are spendthrifts.
Abdul Qadir and Mudassar Nazar, who now lives in England, have also
been hired at an disclosed fee which is still said to be in six
figures. The two will be permanent coaches of the Lahore-based
National Academy.
Not only Boycott's appointment is bewildering, PCB's decision to
double the seating capacity of the National Stadium from 35,000 is
nothing but waste of invaluable resources. According to an
estimate, Rs 50 million from the Rs 260 million fixed for
development programme have been sanctioned for the uplifting of the
stadium which could still increase as the development process
progresses.
Interestingly, the decision to increase the capacity has been taken
after the disaster in the first one-day international against
England where thousands of valid ticket-holders failed to enter the
stadium. Whether the local administration will be able to handle
70,000 spectators on a given day is another question.
Besides, the proposal is not feasible considering the fact that
Karachi hosts one Test and a one-day international in a season. In
the end, the National Stadium will be a white elephant with
millions spent only on its maintenance.
The money could have been better invested had the PCB decided to
build new stadia in the province or opted to improve the
dilapidated Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad which last staged an
international against India in 1997. Need not to recall that the
PCB allocated Rs 30 million for the face-lifting of the cricket
stadium in Multan.
Despite having so much in its coffers, the PCB has ignored the
domestic cricket, which has no sponsorship at the moment. So much
so, no prize money was given to the winners of the first-class
championships in the past two seasons.
But as regards Boycott, the appointment was done after a lengthy
debate by the advisory council in which Javed Miandad and Nasimul
Ghani didn't participate.
While Wasim Azhar proposed that Boycott's salary would be covered
up by a fresh sponsorship deal, Yawar Saeed emphasised that he
should not be brought for just one visit and instead be asked to
follow up and oversee the improvement in the technique of the
players.
It was also decided that Boycott would be asked to arrive in Lahore
on Feb 1 so that he can spend some time with the Pakistan Under-17
players who proceed to Dhaka for the Asian Cricket Council (ACC)
Asia Cup starting there from Feb 8.
While the PCB top hierarchy put its weight behind the
'inexperienced' coaching abilities of Boycott, former Pakistan Test
players took a swipe at their decision.
Mushtaq Mohammad said no cricketer in the world worth that much
money for just 15 days. "I don't know what they (PCB) saw in him
which they couldn't see in their own players. But there are several
unanswered questions.
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20010113
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PHF name new selection committee
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Shazad Ali
KARACHI, Jan 12: The Pakistan Hockey Federation on Friday named an
expanded seven-member selection committee with six men as members
and sports minister Col S.K Tresslor (retd) as the chief selector.
Tresslor has been brought in following the nonavailability of Mir
Zafarullah Jamali who has personal commitments and was out of
country, said a PHF spokesman from Lahore.
Olympians Shahnaz Sheikh, Samiullah, Hanif Khan, and international
Saeed Khan have been inducted as the members, while Brig Khalid
Khokhar, the director general of the Army Sports Directorate, has
been retained. Secretary of the PHF will act as co-opted member.
"We were having difficulty in finding a noncontroversial and
impartial personality for the job. That's why he (Tresslor) has
been made the chief of the committee," he said.
Though, the new selectors' chief has not been involved in the field
of hockey internationally, but according to secretary PHF, he has
exposure and technical know how of the game. He had represented the
Army hockey team during the hey days of Brig Hamid Hameedi (retd)
and Brig Manzoor Hussain Atif (retd).
The official said the new selectors would watch the open trials to
be held on Jan 25 and 26 in Lahore. Samiullah and Hanif are
currently attending a coaching clinic, while Shahnaz Sheikh is
expected to join on Saturday.
A new set of team management would also be named on Jan 26 that
would be attached with the squad for a longer period.
A group of probables would be picked by the selection committee
after the open trials and a one-month training camp starts in
Lahore from Feb 1 for future assignments.
Pakistan team are scheduled to play an eight-nation tournament in
Dhaka from March 10. However, considering present political
scenario and strain relations between the two countries, chances of
Pakistan's participation seem to be bleak.
Nevertheless, Pakistan would by vying in June's four-nation event
in Germany. The greenshirts would then defend Azlan Shah title in
Kuala Lumpur in Aug.
To pick the final clutch of trainees, the selectors would consider
the probables chosen from the preliminary round of the national
championship held last Nov, final round which begins from Jan 14 in
Lahore and the open trials.
"Even the players who have represented Pakistan at Sydney Olympics
will be required to prove their worth during the open trials," the
secretary said.
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